Authorities: Labor Day weekend "manageable"

Authorities say that for the second year in a row there was a drop in activity in Chico and on the Sacramento River during Labor Day weekend, making the once-hectic holiday manageable.

On Monday, several small groups carrying inner tubes or other floating devices were at Irvine Finch River Access, but instead of coolers full of alcoholic beverages, the young floaters had water and sports drinks.

There was one park ranger at Irvine Finch River Access on Monday afternoon checking bags and inner tubes to ensure no one sneaked in alcohol or other contraband. Everyone he approached during a one-hour span was cooperative.

One young man was found with a glass bottle of vodka, but prior to that incident only a few citations were handed out through the weekend, according to authorities.

There were only three citations given out for violating the alcohol ban on the Sacramento River and one citation for having an expired registration on a vessel, said California State Parks Supervising Ranger Kirk Coon on Monday.

A few people expressed their dislike of the alcohol ban, but most people who showed up at the river were lighthearted and cooperative, he said.

"They were going with the flow," Coon said.

The number of people who floated on the Sacramento River took a significant drop from a couple of years ago.

Coon believes there were approximately 500 people who made it to the river through the entire weekend.

"Fishermen and dove hunters outnumber floaters," he said.

In 2012, there were an estimated 10,000 people and last year there were about 3,000.

The low turnout also resulted in less incidents for emergency personnel.

There were 10 rescues and 21 public assists this weekend, Coon said. The only medical need was for a Hamilton City Fire Department member who was injured on a snag.

Like last year's event, which was the first year the alcohol ban was used, there were no physical or sexual assaults reported.

Coon said additional personnel that was specifically on-hand to deal with the Labor Day activity was released by about 2 p.m. on Sunday. On Monday, staffing levels were that of a regular day.

"I'm happy we didn't need as much enforcement," Coon said.

Funds saved from this weekend can go toward other projects, he said.

Another positive for Coon is the decrease in trash left behind.

A maintenance crew went through the river access near Scotty's Boat Landing and Irvine Finch and there was a minimal amount of trash, he said. A yearly clean-up that's planned with Chico State University's Associated Students will be pushed back a few weeks.

Chico resident Jon Stallman was out on the Sacramento River on Monday with his two daughters, wife, and friends.

Stallman said in the past Labor Day weekend would be the weekend to avoid Chico and the river, but it was nice to see it be family-friendly again.

In Chico, activity was manageable and people were also cooperative, Chico police Lt. Mike O'Brien said.

The number of partygoers was really down this year, and that's usually reflective of the number of out-of-town people who come to Chico to float the river, he said. When those numbers are low, it means the number will be low for Chico as well. There's no doubt there's a correlation between those two and it has played out these two years, he added.